Platen for billing-machines.



H. FUOIHUHAP.

PLATEN FOR BILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATloN FILED 05014, 1914.

Iuencd Dec. 5, '1916.

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PLATEN FOR BILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I4. I9I4.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

H. A. FOOIHORAP.

PLATEN FOR BILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I4. I9I4.'

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PLATEN FOR BILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I4, i914.

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HARRY ARTHUR FOOTHORAP, F HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PLATEN FOR BILLING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lDec. 5, 19115..

Application led December 14, 1914. Serial No. 877,217.

. Billing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rl`his invention relates toI platens for billing machines, the principal object being to provide a simple and ellicient platen mounting which, while insuring the norma-l retention of the platen in the writing plane, will permit it to move back or drop away from the writing plane to facilitate the replacement or adjustment of the work sheets.

Another object is to provide platen supporting and operating means so devised and arranged that the platen will be compelled to move accurately without guide rollers or other forms of special guides heretofore deemed necessary.

A still further object of the invention is to so arrange the platen mount-ing that the platen may be accurately adjusted and thereafter compelled to assume, at all times, a position in which its surface will either be in the writing plane or parallel therewith.

`Other objects of the invention will appear as the succeeding description is developed.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of a platen constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the subject-matter of Fig. 1 with therear end broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the front machine stops and its mounting. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5a is a continuation of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 isa section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar section with the platen depressed. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the connection between all of the platen levers and the platen. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the adjusting nuts.

Each part, wherever shown, is designated by its appropriate reference character.

The platen 1 is in the ormfof a flat bed or plate having a hard rubber or other suitable writing surface 2 and is vertically movable in a platen frame 3. The platen frame 3 is a rigid, normally stationary structure comprising parallel side plates 4,- end plates 5 and G and an intermediate transverse plate 7. The platen proper occupies the space defined by the side plates 4, the front plate 5 and the intermediate plate 7, the front plate or bar 5 having its upper edge located in a plane below the writing surface ot the platen so as to leave the platen entirely free and unobstructed to facilitate the introduction ot' the work-sheets to their proper positions on the platen. The longitudinal and transverse plates or bars ot the platen frame may be secured together in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by screws 8. Extended along the top edge of the side plates 4 and secured thereto by screws S) are tracks or guides 1() upon which the billing machine X, indicated by dotted lines on Fig. 1, travels longitudinally ot' the. platen. The rails 10 are eX- tended rearwardly beyond the end bar 6 of the platen iframe and their rear ends are connected by a transverse bar 11.

The specific construction of the rails 10, as herein shown, is not claimed herein, the present application having special reference to the construction and arrangement of the platen and the means whereby the platen is effectively mounted in its frame. Suffice it to say that the rails 10 extend inward beyond the inner sides of the side plates 4 of the platen frame and overhang the edges of the platen 1 to constitute stationary clamps disposed longitudinally of the platen 1, at its opposite edges and coacting with the platen to engage and retain the edge or edges of the work sheet or sheets. These inwardly extending portions or flanges 12 of the railsk 10 are functionally, and may be mechanically, distinct fronl the rails and aside from their functions as clamping members, they also serve as guides for the transverse work holding webs 13, the ends of which are received within the longitudinal guides or grooves 14 in the inner edges of the flanges 12. At the rear edge of the platen 1 is disposed ,a transverse stationary clamping plate 15 screwed to the upper edge of the intermediate frame bar 7 and overlying the rear edge of the platen, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus associated with the platen 1 are longitudinal work-holding members 12 and transverse work-holding members 13 and 15, the members 12, 13 and 15 lbeing permanently' retained with their lower faces in the writing plane to engage and clamp the margins of the work sheet or sheets supported in a flat,

spreadout position on the platen 1 to receive a record recorded 'on the sheet, as, for instance, by the downwardly acting printing mechanism of the Hat platen typewriter or billing machine.

The platen 1 is yieldingly supported in its \normal elevated position by springs 16 having their upper end s seated in cups 17 secured to" the under side of the platen, preferably adjacent to its corners. The lower ends of. the springs 16 rest upon transverse bars 18 screwed to the side members 4 of the platen frame and having posts 19 which extend into and serve to center the springs 16. Disposed below the platen proper and parallel with the sides thereof are two rock shafts 20 and 21 which may be mounted in any approved manner but are preferably 20 formed with trunnions 22, journaled upon the conical ends 23 of adjustable bearing screws 24 screwed through the transverse frame members 5 and 7 and heldsecurely -by ylock nuts 25.-

From the shaft 2O extend transversely of the platen two arms or levers 20a pivotally connected at their outer ends to the ends of a pair of similar arms 21a which extend from the shaft 21. The pivotal connection go between each pair of arms or levers 20 and 21a is necessarily susceptible of lateral play and is there'fore preferably formed by the ordinary slot and pin connection 26, as shown in Fig. 7 Above each of the arms 20a and 21a, a swinging screw or link 27 is suspended between a pair of blocks 28 screwed or otherwise rigidly secured to the platen. Upon each of these screws 27 is screwed a turret nut 29, the radial openings 4@ 30 of which are adapted to receive the inner plain or journal ends 31 of a pair of bearing screws 32 screwed through the walls of the arms 20a and 21a which are bifurcated or cut out to accommodate the several described elements-which form a connection between `each of the arms or levers 20n and A21a and the platen.

Attention is directed to the fact that the several swinging arms 20a and 2l are carried by the platen frame and are inter-dependent, so that any movement of any of these elements is accompanied by a corresponding movement of all of them. It is therefore evident that as each arm or lever is connected at the same distance from its fulcrum with the platen, the several.points of the platen thus connected to the swinging subjacent structureare compelled to have uniform movement. In other words, the ao arrangement described compels uniform movement of the platen throughout its area when drawn down against the resistance of the spring 16, (see Fig. 7) by the movement j of the several connected levers or arms e5 which constitute what mayv be termed the platen operating or depressing mechanism. This platen depressing structure may be drawn down or operated in any suitable or well known manner as, for instance, by a treadle, not shown, connected by a chain 33 or other connecting member to the inner end of one of the levers 20a or 21a.

The manner of connecting the platen to the depressing levers not only accommodates the truly rectilinear movement of the platen to the swinging movement of the platen depressing members but also affords an individual means of adjustment between each corner of the platen and the subjaeent mechanism. The result is that an accurate initial adjustment of the platen with relation to all of the elements which coperate therewith is made possible and thereafter maintained under all conditions of operation. One of the most distinct advantages of this maintenance of the relation of the platen under all conditions is the fact that the platen is retained in an accurate horizontal position and prevented from tilting even when the number of work sheets clamped against the platen at one side thereof is greatly in excess of those held by the other side of the platen.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction and operation of the platen will be clearly comprehended but, while the illustrated 'embodiment of the invention appears at this time to be preferable, I reserve the right to effect such changes, modifications and variations thereof as may be fairly embraced within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus -described my invention, what I claim is 1.The combination with a platen frame and a depressible platen, of a swinging member mounted in the platen frame and a variable connection between the swinging member and the platen.

2. The combination with a platen frame and a depressible platen therein, of a series of inter-dependent swinging members mounted in the platen frame, and a. variable connection between each of said members and the platen.

3. The combination with a. platen frame and a platen mounted therein, of a pair of arms mounted to swing from their outer ends and connected to compel their uniform movement, and a variable connection between each of the arms and the platen.

4. The combination with a platen frame and a depressible platen therein, of a pair, of parallel rock shafts mounted in the frame below the platen, arms extended from each of said'shafts and connected with the arms of the other shaft to compel uniform movement of all of said arms, and independent devices connecting the platen at different points to the arms, said devices being inaol ,any

Liflrallv adjiustable to accurately position .53. 'lbe combination with a platen trame and a depreesible platen mounted therein, f t reactive eiuiportinggg' means for the platen, enmging arms connected to each other for movement in unison and a Variable Connection between each arm and platen, said va- @le roniieetiims accommodating 'the reetilmear movement ot the platen to the eine* movement ot the'arme and being 4table to accurately position the platen. rllhe combination with a platen frame a del'neesible platen mounted therein, et springs supporting' the platen adjacent the corners thereof, a pair of parallel roel; sbatte mounted in the platen frame below the platen, a pair of arms eXtending from eaeh roeli shalt and haring pivotal connect with a ein'iilar pair ot' arms extended i' om the other rock shaft, and independent connections between each of the several ne an" the platen, each of said Connecbeine` extensible longitudinally and capable ot slight swinging motion relative to the arm and platen respectively.

7. "lhe combination with a platen frame and platen, of a swinging` arm mounted in the trame below the platen end a eonneetion between the platen and arm, said connection comprising a screw having pivotal Connection with the platen, a turret nut adjustable on theserew and adjusting;- Screws carried by the arm and engaging the turret nut.

8. The combination with a. platen frame and platen, of platen depressing mechanism including a rook shaft, a connection between the rook shaft and the platen and bearing screws carried by the platen frame and engaging the ends of the rock shaft.

ln testimont7 whereof ll ailix my signa,- tuie in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY ARTHUR FO'lll-lltlltltl?.

llllitnes'ser z l lll. J. lllnnn'r, EDWIN FLOYD, 

